Upstate gas prices down four cents in week

Customers of the Hickory Point gas station on U.S. 76 at the intersection of Broadway Lake Road put gasoline into their vehicles Monday afternoon.

A sign for a BP gas station in Belton advertises the station's gas prices.

The Upstate remains the home of the cheapest gasoline in South Carolina, and South Carolina ranks among the best places in the U.S. to buy gasoline.

Average retail gasoline prices in the Upstate fell by four cents a gallon in the past week, dropping the average for a gallon of self-serve, regular unleaded to $3.39.

The South Carolina average fell to $3.48, according to a daily survey by GasBuddy.com. The U.S. average stood at $3.67 Monday.

The state and national averages each fell by about three cents a gallon from the previous week, the second straight decline following increases in eight consecutive weeks to begin 2013.

In North Carolina, where state taxes are considerably higher, the statewide average is $3.71. In Georgia, Monday's average stood at $3.64.

The decline followed predictions by most analysts of a steady increase in prices heading to a peak in April. That was the case last year, when the South Carolina average climbed to $3.73 in mid-April.

The slight decline of the last two weeks could be the result of slower sales during the soaring rise in February. According to the American Automobile Association, the nation's crude stockpiles rose by 3.8 million barrels last week, the most since June 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration. The dollar also reached a high against the euro this year, helping to weigh down oil prices.

"Gas prices are expected to decrease further in the short term and will likely stay below year-ago levels. However, motorists are not in the clear yet," said Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, in a statement. "Pump prices may inch back up in April, before peaking as initially forecast by the EIA at the start of the year."

Monday's prices are about 10 cents per gallon higher than one month ago.

Monday's cheapest gasoline prices in the area were once again found on Calhoun Memorial Highway in Easley, where an Ingles, a QuikTrip and a Sunoco station all offered regular at $3.29 a gallon. The best price in Anderson was $3.33 (Hickory Point 4800 Liberty Highway and QuikTrip on I-85 Exit 21). The price was $3.35 at Zooms on Exit 27, and it was $3.37 at more than 20 locations in Anderson.

Elsewhere in Anderson County, the Hickory Point in Pelzer offered the lowest price ($3.33) on regular gasoline.

Diesel buyers found the best prices at the Hickory Point at 4800 Liberty Highway and the QuikTrip on I-85 Exit 21, both at $3.59.